Fruit pitting machine



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FRUIT PITT ING MACHINE Filed April ll, 1941 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 'null Feb 15, 1944. E. P. DRAKE ET AL FRUIT PITTNG MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed April ll, 1941 NR. gw NNW EN* Fel 15, 1944 E. P. DRAKE ET AL FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1941 1'6 Sheets-Sheet 16 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 Faurr rrr'rmG MACHINE Edward P. Drake and Fred i. Alber-ty, Los Angeles,

and William Herbert Kagley, Lindsay,

Calif.,

assignors to Lindsay Ripe Olive Company, Lindsay, Calif.. a corporation Application Api-i1 11, 1941, serial ivo. 388,152

(ci. 14s-zr) 19 Claims.

'This application is for improvements over certain features of the invention described and claimed in United States Letters Patent of Edward P. Drake, No. 2,205,397, granted June 25, 1940, for Automatic pitting machine, and also improvements over the invention disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Edward P. Drake, Serial No. 245,341, illed December 13, 1938, for Automatic olive pitting machine which has matured into Patent No. 2,246,843, granted June 24, 1941. It is a continuation in part of our application Serial No. 322,540, filed March 6, 1940, for Automatic machine for pitting fruit.

This invention relates primarily to the fruit packing industry and more specicaily to an automatic machine for pitting fruit such as olives in preparation for packing them in jars or cans. Our machine is adaptable for pitting various kinds f fruit and by our reference to olives as an illustration of its use we do not intend to limit the invention in any way. It will be obvious as the description progresses that certain features of our machine have greatest utility in the handling of olives because of the oblong character of that fruit, but it will also be observed that the same machine or parts thereof may be employed for pitting cherries, plums, apricots, and various other fruits. For convenience. however, in description and to bring out all the features of novelty and utility we will describe the machine in connection with .the pitting of olives.

In removing pits from olives it is necessary that e/ach olive be iirmly grasped in a predetermined aligned position while a punch enters from one end of the olive and is forced longitudinally therethrough, or the olive is forced against the punch by means of a die, to push the pit out through the end of the olive. In the case of olives the pit may not be struck out through the sides as to do so destroys them for the commercial purposes intended. This is because both olives and pits are oblong.

Previous machines for pitting olives have been introduced. In one of these olives are individually placed by hand in dies Which hold the olives during the punching operation. The slowness, expense, and danger to the attendants of such hand fed machines make their vuse impractical for large scale commercial production. In the U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,205,397 a form of automatic pitting machine is disclosed in which the olives need. not be hand fed but are supplied in bulk to a hopper and are fed, aligned, and positioned by the machine for the punching operation. It is believed that that is the first olive pitting machine in which bulk olives are automatically fed directly to the pit ejecting mechanism. In the copending application Serial No.

245,341 certain improvements are disclosed overthe earlier machine. The present application utilizes the same basis of design and operation as in the previous application. but contains a number of improvements and refinements as well as certain additional parts which have been found to materially increase the speed and efciency of the machine. In the present application we also introduce certain modiilcations which will be described.

An object of the invention is to provide in a machine which is adapted t0 handle a continuous supply of olives which may be from boxes or any other bulk delivered into a hopper, to transfer from the hopper a continuous flow of olives to a metering device which spaces their subsequent travel, and to position the olives in the region o1' a die and punch mechanism, a novel die and punch mechanism by which the pits are elected longitudinally by the combined action of the die and punch, the pitted olives are delivered into one container or accumulator and the pits into another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel die and punch mechanism with associated operating parts by which a continuous supply of olives, however previously aligned and fed, may be pitted while the olives are traveling from one part of the machine to another, thus providing for a continuous handling of the olives without interruption in travel from a feeding, metering and aligning mechanism, en route to an accumulator.

Another object is to provide a novel design of die which will accommodate olives of any size.

Another object is to provide a novel coring tool in combination with the die which coring tool advances against the end of an olive and makes an incision therein to facilitate the ejection of the pit through that end of the olive. A further novel and important function of the coring tool in combination with the die and associated elements is to exert a, suction for temporarily retaining the pits in the bore of the die to prevent the pits from being prematurely ejected and deposited with the pitted olives.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the further description in the specification and the illustration in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a considerably tion of thefhopper, feed, and metering mechanism seen from the side Aopposite that of Figure 1. v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing parts of the inclined feeding and positioning mechanism.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view showing the lines of force which occur in the inclined feeding and positioning mechanism.

Figure 6 is a section of the metering device taken on'the line |0|0 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side view partly in section taken on the line of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |2|2 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 isa section taken on the line |5|5 of Figure 2 showing the central and lower portion of the machine. i

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on the line IB-it of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a plan with parts in section of the main drum cooperating cam, punches, dies, andcoring tools drawn to a hypothetical plan for purposes of illustration.

Figure 12 is a detailed longitudinal section of a die, coring tool, fragment of a punch and immediately associated parts with the parts in positioning Just after receiving an olive at which the coring tool has advanced to make a deep incision in the olive.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 with the parts in position after the punch has gone through the olive and struck out the pit.

Figure 14 is a similar view in which the coring tool is shown fully retracted.

Figure 15 is another similar view in which the die is shown fully retracted and the punch is shown in the function of stripping the olive.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section taken on the line -22-22 of Figure 2, particularly illus trating the cam Figure 17 is a fragmentary section taken in general on the line 23-23 of Figure 2 illustrat-4 ing a part of the gripper cam.

Figure 18 is a detailed longitudinal section of a punch and immediately associated mechanism.

Figure 19 is a section of the punch taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a chart of the cam action of the cams mounted on the main drum which actuates the dies. punches, coring tools and the grippers.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of parts shown in Figure 9 particularly illustrating the adjustment of the olive chute for different size olives.

Figure 22 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 28-28 of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a side view of an adjusting tool.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary view taken the direction of the arrow 30 in Figure 21, showing especially the use of the adjusting tool for centering the olive between the die and the punch by adjustingthe cha Figure 25 is a fragmentary section of the chain driving gear showing its adaptability to adjustment.

Figure 26 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of the machine.l

Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 9 illus-` trating the modifications shown in Figure 26. Figures 28, 29, 30 and 31 are longitudinal sectional views somewhat enlarged illustrating a modified form of punch and die mechanism.

which actuates the coring tool.

passages formed in the enlarged side elevacluding a feeding mechanism 30, which is being made the subject of a divisional application based upon the 'parent case Serial No. 322,540, and a metering device 3| and a spacing and positioning mechanism 32 being claimed in the said parent case.

The feeding device comprises a hopper 40, the lower constricted end of which communicates with a vibrating tray 4| having a plurality of delivery passages 42.

The vibrating tray is formed with relatively high side walls 00 and intermediate low walls 0| defining olive delivery passages 42. In the drawings the olives are designated O. The present machine is designed with four such delivery trayl 4|. Generally speaking, olives poured into the hopper 40 con verge and descend by gravity into the four delivery passages 42.

The tray 4| webs 5| carried section taken on 53 of any suitable design.

Vibration of the tray causes the olives to travel along the delivery passages 42 toward the metering device 3|, suflicient details of which will be described to show the connection between -the metering device and the pitting mechanism.

The purpose of the metering device is to receive the olives from the four delivery passages, space their subsequent travel and divert them into two inclined positioning chutes or troughs |00 which are part of the spacing and positioning mechanism 32. It has been found that four of the delivery passages are advisable to assure a continuous supply of olives to two positioning chutes.

The metering device has one to serve each delivery passage 42a in a magazine |0| which is a subordinate part of the metering device.

The metering device includes retaining fingers ||6 and holding lngers each combination of which meters olives one at a time for release f into the chutes |00 at a rate to deposit one olive upon each spacer |30 as the spacer passes, details of which will be later described.

Referring to Figure 1, an electric motor M is mounted on the frame F. On the shaft of the motor is a pinion |50 meshing with a gear |5| keyed to a shaft |52. On the shaft |52 is a small gear |53 which meshes with a large gear with a large gear |54. This gear meshes with a smaller gear |55, which is adjustably locked on the shaft |55a by any suitable means, such as a setscrew |55b. There are two similar sprockets |56 fixed to the shaft |55a, one sprocket to accommodate each of a pair of endless chains |50.

As indicated, there are twin units of olive spacing and positioning mechanisms, each of which includes one of the chains referred to.

Describing only one of these elements, it will be observed that driven by the sprocket |56 is the chain |60 which travels over an intermediate sprocket |6| and an upper sprocket |62. The chain can be timed (both chains being timed as one) by loosening the set screw |55b, shifting the chain .and sprocket to a desired position, and retightening the set screw. IOther equivalent means for timing the power drive and chain may be employed.

The upper sprocket |02 is fixed to a shaft |02 joumaled in the frame extension FI.

There is only one shaft |03, this extending across the machine and servicing both units. Power from the motor Yis thus transmitted through the agencies mentioned to the chains |00. and to other moving parts as will presently appear.

The spacing and positioning mechanism 32 begins at the upper end of the chute and includes various associated mechanisms from that point in the travel of the olives until the olives have been seized by the punches and dies in the central part of the machine. It consists primarily of chute |00, spacing means including the spacing fingers |30 and gripping devices |93, the latter of which come into play near the lower end of the chute and cooperate to grip the olives and correctly hold them to be received by the dies.

The chutes are mounted at their upper 'end by means of attached bosses |00a mounted on a laterally extending bar |00b which has its end seated in lug |00c formed on the frame extension Fi. This form of mounting enables the lower ends of the chute |00 to be raised and lowered for adjusting purposes to accommodate olives of different sizes.

The chutes each comprise a trough having vertical side walls and a bottom |1| U shaped in cross section near the upper end and feathering into a V shaped cross section toward the lower end. The width of the trough is slightly greater than the length of the largest olives to be pitted. The trough is slotted as at |12 for a distance upward from its lower end for a purpose later disclosed.

To\ one side of each chute is an angle iron guide bar |15 fastened to a bracket |16 on the frame F. This guide bar furnishes a track support for the upper reach of the chain |60, the chain being aligned slightly to one side of the chute |00 and parallel thereto. The lower part of the angle iron guide bar |15 is supported upon a bracket |1|ia which is bolted to the frame.

The lower portion of the chute |00 is supported by means of a bracket extension |11 which is bolted to the frame F. The frame is provided with a slot |18 through which thel bolt |19 passes to secure the bracket extension |11, and is adjustable in the slot to afford a limited vertical adjustment of the chute. Other equivalent means for mounting the lower end of the chute whereby its position may be adjusted, as by means of cams or the like, are considered by us to be equivalent and Within the scope of our invention.

Secured to every third link in the chain is a. spacer |30, previously referred to. Each spacer consists of a bracket |90 substituted for the chain link plate on one side of the chain to which bracket is screwed for lateral adjustment a member |9| set at an angle, the end |92 extending into the chute |00 and adapted to travel freely therein.

Olives descend in the chutes, rolling and sliding behind the spacers |30. The olives seek their most natural rolling position, and the concave bottom of the trough aids the olives to quickly assume such position. No matter what the position of each olive as it is released into the chute, the configuration of the bottom of the trough, and the length of travel to the end of the chute result in the olive invariably assuming a position with its longitudinal axis transverse of the chute as it approaches the lower end thereof. We prefer to employ auxiliary fluid means for hastening the augment of the olives, but this means is not a part of the invention claimed in the present application.

The slot |12 is not wide enough to 'affect the movement or position of the olives. It does permit, however, the narrow gripper |93 to enter behind the olive and close in upon the same, the olive being then gripped between the gripper |93 and spacer |30. The gripper and spacer travel together in this relationship almost to the position where the olive is seized by the punch and die, whereupon the spacer travels on tangentially and the gripper is retracted.

Upon leaving the guide member |15 the chain |00 follows the contour of a drum 200 which is a part of the punch and die mechanism and is supported thereby on the peripheral track 20|; having served its function the chain passes around sprocket |50 and returns over sprocket |0| to the upper sprocket |02.

The grippers are intimately involved with the die and punch mechanism and will be further described in connection with the latter.

Referring now especially to Figure 2, a main shaft 202 is journaled in end bearings 203 which are carried by the frame F. This main shaft has ailixed to it a gear |54 as by means of a set screw 204 and the shaft is rotated by rotation of the gear.

On the center of the shaft is keyed a disc 205 having a hub 200 and an outer section consisting of a bifurcated annular flange 201. The bifurcations of the flange are spaced apart somewhat more than the length of an olive and have regularly spaced holes 208 and 209 in a series concentric with the axis disc. The holes 208 are of a diameter large enough to accommodate the ypassage of a punch and small enough to bar an olive. The holes 209 are large enough to accommodate a die the outer diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of an olive. These holes alternate in the series and the series'in alternating are offset so that holes 208 in one flange are concentric with the holes 209 in the opposite flange. This is well illustrated in Figures 2 and 10.

Except for the gear |54 and the disc 205 the die and punch units on each side of the line |0|6 of vFigure 2 are twins and only one will be described in detail.

Supported within the frame F is a cam barrel 2|0. This cam barrel remains stationary. It provides three separate cams: an internal gripper cam 2| an external die cam 2 I2, and an external punch cam 2|3.

The gripper cam 2li comprises a cam race 2|5 of the irregular contour illustrated formed upon the inner face of an annular flange 2|6 which is part of the cam barrel. The physical configuration of this race maybe seen in Figure 9, and its action and relation to the die cam and punch cam'is analyzed in the chart Figure 20. Its purpose is to operate and control Ithe gripper |93.

The drum 200 is formed with an end 220 and a hub 22|. the latter of which is keyed to the shaft 202 by which it is rotated. The drum includes a peripheral extension 222.

Disposed in the end 220 concentric with the axis of the drum is a series of regularly spaced bearing lugs 225. These lugs have holes machined therein to afford bearingsurfaces 226 for shaft 221 of the gripper |93.

Each gripper |93 (see Figures 21 and 22) inciudes an extending member |9311 formed with-a pocket |83b secured to and arranged to be given a partial rotation by the shaft 221. At the end of the shaft opposite the member |93a is keyed a crank 228 upon which is a roller 228 adapted to follow the gripper cam race 2|5. A coil spring 230 is positioned upon the outer end of the shait 221 to urge the roller 229 toward the face of the cam race 2| 5.

Referring back toA Figure 9, it will be seen that as the drum 200 rotates carrying with it the grippers |93 the rollers on the cranks of the grippers follow the cam race2i5. The grippers are thus held in a retracted inactive position until reaching the slot |12 in the chute |00 at which point the cam race recedes abruptly and permits the spring 230 to urge the gripper member |93 forward against an olive which is following one of the spacers |30. The depression in the cam extends fOr 62 during the travel oi' the roller assure that it clears the die which, as seen in the subsequent description, has moved into the region occupied by the gripper. The cam race is further advanced to move the gripper back for clearance oi the punch. The cam permits this inactive of retracted position of the gripper to be maintained to the starting point described. As further particulars of the cam action are described in Figure no more detailed description is deemed necessary here.

As an auxiliary feature in the operation of the grippers a stationary cooperating cam member 230 is secured to the inner face of the barrel 2li) and is formed with a cam race 23| of irregular 2|5 at the point of the evolution of the travel of the griDDers where they enter the slot |12, thus assuring a rapid advancement of the grippers into the proper position for engaging the olives. This eliminates any possible tendency of the `gripper action at that point to be sluggish and to interfere with the orderly and rapid handling of the olives.

For an understanding of additional details of the die and punch mechanism reference should be made to Figures 12, et seq. 'Ihe dies are generally designated by the numeral 240 andthe punches by the numeral 24|. They are al1 alike.

'Ihe drum 200 is formed with peripheral flanges 242, 243 and 244. A series of aligned holes 242a, 243a, and 24411. are provided in these respective Comprising each die is an outer sleeve 252 slidably iltting in the bearing 243a. A collar 253 encloses a portion of the sleeve and is attached extends into the raceway andl 'This collar has a rectangular shank l roller or cam follower 251 travels through the raceway over a varying contour, as illustrated in Figure 1'1.

slidably mounted within the sleeve inner sleeve 280 which has a stop nut 2l-I at the member 265, The extreme urging the collar forward away from the washers 210.

At the upper part of the collar 215 is mounted a roller 280 as in the die moved forward While the coring tool remains in substantially the same position it occupied in Figure 12.

The forward with a minimum of tearing of the punching operation.

When the die is advanced to seize the olive the to about'the position illustrated as the die remains in advanced position and are 

